The Mediating Role of Innovative Behavior on the Effect of Digital Leadership on Intrapreneurship Intention and Job Performance

Abstract

Depending on technological developments, digital transformation represents an inevitable reality for organizations. Based on this reality, digital leadership, which is a new understanding of leadership, has emerged. In accordance with the literature, digital leaders are expected to transform organizations under the leadership of innovation, thus encouraging high performance and efficiency. The present study aimed to measure the mediating effect of innovative behavior on the effect of digital leadership on job performance and intrapreneurship intention using data collected from 390 people working in the IT sector in Istanbul and a structural equation modeling method. The data obtained in this structural equation modeling study were analyzed in the Smart-PLS program. It is anticipated that the present study, in which the relationship between the variables is supported by various theories, will contribute to the extant literature. The results of this study indicate that innovative behavior has a fully mediating impact on the effect of digital leadership on intrapreneurship intention. Furthermore, it is observed that innovative behavior has a partially mediating impact on the effect of digital leadership on job performance. Considering the results, this study proves that digital leaders need to adopt innovative behavior so as to ensure performance and intrapreneurship in an organization.